Article of luggage



Aug. 2, 1966 J. BIALER ARTICLE OF LUGGAGE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 1'7. 1965 INVENTOR JOSEPH 504L51 ATTORNEY avdwi sga s- 2, 1966 J. BIALER 3,263,779

ARTICLE OF LUGGAGE Filed March 17, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Y H618 Q 5 g 70/ -35 46'\ 35 -19 I 24 -/40a \J 9 #967 1 \1 22 INVENTOR.

JOSEPH B/ALER A7 TOR/V United States Patent M 3,263,779 ARTICLE OF LUGGAGE Joseph Bialer, 1421 E. 45th St., Brooklyn, N.Y.

' Filed Mar. 17, 1965, Ser. No. 440,356

4 Claims. (Cl. 19051) This invention relates to improvements in articles of luggage and more particularly to the rigid-walled type of brief case commonly referred to as an attach case.

The attach case type of luggage has been finding widespread use among professional men and business men since it constitutes an eflicient and convenient case for carrying papers, documents, files, books and the like, and for protecting the contents against damage. Conventionally, the attach case comprises a rigid-walled rectangular body section and a rectangular top section hinged thereto to act as a lid, and also having rigid walls. In most attach cases an accordion file is also provided in the top section to receive and organize loose papers, while the more bulky contents such as files or books are stored in the body section.

While this type of carrying case is ideally suited for the person who must carry papers and the like about in a particular location, a problem is encountered where it is also necessary or desirable to also carry a change of clothing. Business and professional men are constantly required to travel away from home on overnight trips or other trips of short duration, so that a fresh shirt and other articles of clothing must be carried along. In many instances, it is inconvenient to carry an overnight bag and since an attach case is already carried for business papers or the like, it would be desirable to carry a change of the clothing in addition within the attach case.

It has been found that an attach case is particularly unsuited for the transportation of shirts and the like since the article of clothing becomes creased, crushed or soiled by the other articles stored in the case. The accordion file is likewise a poor receptacle for clothing since it compresses the clothing therein, causing the latter to become crushed.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an article of luggage in the nature of a dual purpose attach case adapted to receive and transport simultaneously papers, files and other bulky articles, as well as articles of wearing apparel, protecting the latter from being creased, crushed or soiled by the other articles carried in the case.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an article of luggage of the character described which is provided with two separate interior compartments, one suited for the eflicient storage of papers, files, books or the like, and the other constructed to store articles of clothing in such a manner as to protect them against compression, even when the first compartment is filled to capacity.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an article of luggage of the character described which has the outer appearance and size of a conventional attach case and which may be used as such, but in which articles of clothing can be constantly stored for availablity to the user in fresh condition in the event of an unexpected trip or other emergency in which a change of clothing is required.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an article of luggage of the type described which is compact and is economical to manufacture.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a carrying case of the type known as an attach case and including a main body section and a lid section hinged thereto, the body sections having walls of rigid material, and latch means being pro- Patented August 2, 1966 vided to hold the sections in closed condition. A substantially rigid partition member is pivotally mounted within the interior of the carrying case for dividing the interior into a first compartment for receiving articles of clothing and a second compartment for receiving papers, books or other bulky or heavy items. Mounting means are pnovided within the case for mounting the partition member in parallel spaced relation to the transverse wall panels of the case to define said compartments, and to releasably lock the partition member immovably in such mounted position. Means in the nature of flaps are also provided on the partition member to hold articles of clothing on the partition member within the first compartment, thereby protecting the articles of clothing from crushing.

Additional objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the carrying case of the present invention in closed position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the carrying case shown in open condition with the partition in the raised and locked position;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the carrying case of the present invention shown in open condition with the partition in the lowered position;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the carrying case shown in :open condition similar to FIG. 3 with the partition in lowered position but with its side flaps and end panel open for receiving garments;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view, with parts broken away, taken along line 55 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view, with parts broken away, taken along line 66 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a second embodiment of the present invention illustrating a means of releasably connecting the partition to the carrying case; and

FIG. 8 is a vertical fragmentary sectional view, showing the embodiment of FIG. 7 with the partition connected and the carrying case in closed condition.

The drawings are substantially to scale of a working model of the present invention. Like numbers in the various figures indicate identical elements.

Referring in detail to the drawings and in particular to FIGS. 14, it will be seen that the dual purpose carrying case has the external appearance of the usual attach case, comprising a rigid-walled, rectangular main body section 10 having an open top, and a rectangular lid section 11 which closes off the open top of the main body section 10.

The main body section 10 comprises a rectangular bottom panel 12 and rigid upstanding side walls 14, 16, front wall 13 and rear wall 15, connected to the respective peripheral edges of bottom panel 12 and to each other. As is conventional, the panel 12 and the walls 13-16 may be made of a rigid material covered with leather or simulated leather.

Lid section 11 comprises a rectangular top panel 19 and rigid depending side walls 21 and 23, front wall 20 and rear wall 22, said walls being connected to the respective peripheral edges of top panel 19 and to each other. The lid section 11 is hinged to the main body section 10 in the usual manner so that it may be opened and closed relative to the main body section. FIG. 6 shows one of a pair of hinges 26 employed for this purpose, the hinges being secured to and connecting the respective rear walls 15 and 22 of the main body section and lid section.

At their edges, walls 13-16 of main body section 10 are provided with a continuous, outwardly-extending shelf 17, and walls 20-23 of lid section 11 are provided with a continuous, complementary, inwardly-extending shelf 24. The shelves 17 and 24 interfit to provide a rabbet joint when the lid section is in closed position to protect the interior of the carrying case from moisture, dirt and the like.

In one commercial form of the invention, the attache case in closed condition measured 18 inches long, 13 inches wide, and 4 /2 inches deep. The main body section was 3 inches deep, while the 'lid was 1 inch deep.

For added rigidity and strength, the usual hinged support arms 27 and 28 (FIGS. 2 and 3) are provided on each side of the carrying case. Arms 27 are pivotally mounted on respective side Walls 14 and 16 of bottom section 10, while arms 28 are pivotally mounted on respective side walls 21 and 23 of lid section 11. A pivot pin 29 connects each pair of arms 27 and 28 to provide the hinge construction. Support arms 27 and 28 limit the movement of lid section 11 to a position wherein top panel 19 is substantially vertical, and serve to maintain the lid section in this open position.

Longitudinally spaced locks 31 and 32 (FIG. 1) are respectively provided adjacent the ends of walls 20 and 13 and serve to lock lid section 11 in the closed position on bottom section 10.- The locks may be of the conventional type having a suitable tab section with a hasp thereon connected to wall 20 and a keeper section connected to wall 13 whereby the hasps may be engaged and retained by the respective keepers. Additionally, a handle 33 is provided to facilitate carrying the case of the present invention and is connected to wall 13 by means of,'for example, U-shaped hooks adapted to pass through the ends of handle 33 and wall 13 and may be connected to wall 13 by swaging the ends of the hooks.

In accordance with the present invention, a partition is mounted within the carrying case, this partition dividing the interior of the case into a rigid compartment for papers, books and the like, and a separate rigid compartment for articles of apparel. Thus the carrying case is afforded a dual function, serving as the usual attach case as well as an overnight case for transporting clothing. The partition is made movable so that ready access may be had to both compartments. For this purpose, a substantially rigid, rectangular partition 34 is provided, said partition extending between the walls of the carry- .ing case and being spaced slightly from said walls so as to be freely movable therebetween. The partition 36 may be composed of heavy cardboard or other suitable rigid material and covered with the same fabric material which lines the interior of the carrying case.

The partition 34 is hinged to the rear wall of the carrying case. In the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings, the inner surface of bottom section and lid section 11 are covered with a suitable fabric material 35 such as canvas, the fabric material having an extension or flap portion 36 which extends between rear walls and 22 across the hinged junction of lid section 11 and bottom section 10, as shown in FIG. 3. As best seen in FIGS. 3 and 6, the fabric material 37 covering the partition 34 extends past the rear edge of said partition to provide a flexible rear fiap 38 which is connected to the flap portion 36 of the carrying case lining by a line of stitching 39, thereby providing a hinge for the rear edge of the partition 34.

Releasable mounting means 40 are carried by lid section 11 and are cooperable with complementary portions of partition 34 to support the latter rigidly in parallel spaced relation to the top panel 19, thereby defining a compartment for the storage of clothing. The mounting means 40 includes a pair of spaced L-shaped brackets 41 secured to front Wall of lid section 11, as by rivets 42, and each supporting an elliptical post 43. Each post 43 has an elliptical end portion 44 of the same cross-sectional size and shape rotatably mounted thereon to provide a twist lock. Partition panel 34 is provided with a pair of spaced elliptically-shaped apertures 45 reinforced by metal eyelets 46. The apertures 45 are located to register with the respective posts 43 and to receive the posts 43 and their end portion 44 snugly therethrough. When the end portions 44 are turned to a position in which their major axes are aligned with the major axes of the respective posts 43, the elliptical configuration of the posts and end portionsare in registry to provide a continuous mounting post, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The partition 34 may then be brought into engagement with the posts, so that the elliptical apertures 45 therein receive and pass over the respective post end portions 44 and then receive the posts 43. The end portions are then rotated ninety degrees to the position shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, with their major axes underlying the major axes of the elliptical apertures 45, to lock the partition 34 in mounted position on the posts 43. The posts 43 are preferably made of a length substantially equal to the thickness of the partition 34 so that the latter is mounted immovab ly or so that it may have a slight movement between the brackets 41 and the turned post end portions 44.

As shown in FIG. 6, the partition 34 in its mounted position is supported rigidly between and parallel to the bottom panel 12 and top panel 19 and divides the interior of the carrying case into an upper compartment 47 and a lower compartment 48. In the preferred form of the invention, the upper compartment is utilized for the storage and transportation of clothing articles.

A plurality of flaps are provided on the surface of partition 34 facing top panel 19 to maintain the articles of wear in place and to insure that they do not become creased during transit. Accordingly, longitudinally extending side flaps 49 and 50 of a substantially flexible material are provided, the flaps 49 and 50 being connected to the lateral edges of partition 34 by respective lines of stitching 51. Thus, side flaps 49 and 50 are pivotable about their stitched connection to partition 34, as shown in FIG. 4, and are adapted to overlie the respective right and left hand portions of said partition. Preferably, the side flaps are of such size that they do not overlie each other. A laterally extending panel 52 composed of a relatively flexible material such as canvas is .pivotally connected to partition 34 by a line of stitching 53 extending along the edge of partition 34.

It is to be noted that the longitudinal length of panel 52 is slightly smaller than the longitudinal length of partition 34 so that it defines a marginal space about the edge of said partition. Straps 54 and 55 are respectively connected to partition 34 adjacent to and between apertures 45 by any conventional means such as rivets. The straps project beyond the front edge of partition 34, and female snap fastener elements 56 and 57 are connected to the free ends thereof. The upper surface of panel 52 is provided with complementary male snap fastening elements (not shown). The associated male snap fastening elements are positioned to engage the female elements 56 and 57, when panel 52 is superposed on partition 34, to maintain panel 52 in position, as shown in FIG. 3.

A pair of L-shaped brackets 58 and 59 are respectively connected to side walls 14 and 16 of bottom section 10 (FIG. 5) adjacent the front of the case. Bracket 58 includes an inwardly projecting lateral arm 58A spaced -a short distance below the top edge of wall 14, and a depending arm 59B which abuts the inner surface of wall 14 and is connected thereto by a screw or rivet 60. Similarly, bracket 59 comprises an inwardly lateral arm 59A which is spaced a short distance below the top edge of wall 16 and a depending arm 59B which abuts the inner surface of wall 16 and is connected thereto by a screw or rivet 61. As shown in FIG. 5, arms 58A and 59A are mounted in alignment and are spaced apart by a distance smaller than the width of partition 34, so as to support partition 34 in parallel spaced relation to bottom panel 12.

When apparel is to be placed in the carrying case of the present invention, lid section 11 is opened to the position shown in FIG. 3, the straps 54 and 55 are released, and panel 52 and side flaps 49 and 50 are turned about their stitched hinges to the raised, open position shown in FIG. 4. An article or articles of apparel such as shirts, underwear and the like, as indicated in phantom at 62 in FIG. 4, is placed on partition 34 (which rests on brackets 58 and 59). Flaps 49 and 50 are then turned downwardly over the articles of apparel and panel 52 is then superposed on flaps 48 and 49, and is secured in overlying position by engagement of the strap snaps 56 and 57 with the aforementioned male snaps on panel 52. Thereafter partition 34 may 'be pivoted into lid section 11 and affixed thereto in parallel spaced relation to top panel 19 by the releasable mounting means 40 in the manner previously described. Books, papers or other documents may then be placed in bottom section and lid section 11 may then be closed and locked in place.

An accordion file 70 is provided in the carrying case of the present invention to receive loose papers therein. Such accordion files are common in conventional attach cases, but are normally mounted on the inner surface of the lid thereof. In the present instance, the accordion file 70 is mounted on the partition 34 so as to be included within the lower compartment 48. File 70 includes a face panel 71 of a relatively rigid material such as cardboard covered with cloth. One longitudinal edge of panel 71 is pivotally connected by a line of stitching 72 to the rear flap 38 of partition 34, as shown in FIG. 6. Panel 71 overlies the lower face of partition 34 and terminates substantially short of the front edge of said partition 34, being connected to the lateral edges of partition 34 by accordion pleated side panels 73 and 74, in the conventional manner. Inner panels 75, 76 and 77 extend between the apex of the pleats in panels 73 and 74 to form the compartments of the accordion file.

The accordion file 70 is maintained closed or in compressed position 'by a pair of straps 78 and 79 connected to partition 34 on each side of file 70 and carrying snap fastener elements 80 and 81 which engage corresponding snap fastener elements 82, 83, 84 and 85 on the face panel 71. A plurality of snap fastener elements are provided on face panel 71 to enable the accordion file to be secured and compressed regardless of the amount of paper contained therein.

It will thus be seen that the partition 34, when mounted upon posts 43, provides a rigid compartment for the storage of clothing. When clothing is placed in the compartment 47 and the partition 34 locked in mounted position, the clothing is held spaced from the walls of the carrying case so that it cannot be crushed, even when the lower compartment 48 is filled to capacity with papers, books or the like.

Accordingly, an article of luggage has been provided which serves the dual purpose of providing for the carrying of articles of apparel to protect the same from creasing or otherwise becoming unfit for wear and, further, provides for the safe carrying of papers or other documents.

A second embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 and includes a partition 134 which is releasably connected to the carrying case of the present invention. In many instances it is desirable to remove the partition particularly where large bulky objects are to be carried in the case wherein the depth of the objects is greater than the height of the bottom section of the case, such as exhibits or large, thick books. More specifically, partition 134 is similar to partition 34 and likewise includes hinged garment-retaining flaps 49, 50 and panel 52 on the upper surface thereof and an accordion file 70 on the lower surface thereof. The partition 134 is identical to partition 34 in all other respects with the 6 exception that the rear flap 38 is not permanently connected to the carrying case by a line of stitching. Instead, a pair of longitudinally spaced snap tabs 139 are connected to flap 38 and project laterally beyond the rear edge of flap 38.

The snap tabs 139 are of conventional construction and each includes a hollow movable member 140 mounted within a cavity 141 formed in the body of snap tab 139. An internal compression spring (not shown) biases the movable member 140 outwardly of the cavity 141 to the extended position shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, in which the member 140 projects above the upper surface of the body of snap tab 139. As shown clearly in FIG. 8, the movable member 140 has an inclined top wall 140a which tapers upwardly and rearwardly from the leading edge of the member 140. The movable member 140 can be depressed into the cavity 141, against the biasing force of the internal spring, to a position in which the highest point in its top wall 140a is substantially flush with the upper surface of snap tab 139.

A pair of longitudinally spaced keeper elements 142 are mounted on rear wall 22 of lid section 11 and are aligned with snap tabs 139 to releasably receive the respective snap tabs and thereby hingedly connect partition 134 within the carrying case. Keeper elements 142 each comprise a base 143 and an integral upstanding inverted U-shaped member 144 at the leading edge thereof. The legs of each U-shaped member 144 are spaced apart a sufficient distance to receive the projecting member 140 of the re spective snap tab 139 therein in a loose sliding fit; however, the spacing between the bight of member 144 and base 143 is less than the greatest overall height of snap tab 139 (including tapered member 140). Thus, when snap tab 139 is inserted into keeper element 142 the bight of member 144 will depress member 140 to allow passage of tab 139 therethrough. However, when tab 139 is fully inserted (i.e., when member 140 has moved rearwardly beyond member 144) member 140 will be biased to its normal position and the rear edge of inclined top wall 140a will be positioned above member 142 (FIG. 8), thereby preventing removal of the snap tab 139' from keeper element 142. Thus, partition 134 will be connected within the carrying case and flexible flap 38 will again provide for the pivoting of the partition.

When it is desired to remove partition 134, members 140 are depressed to a position wherein the rear edge of the top wall 140a of each member 140 lies below the bight of inverted U-shaped member 144, whereupon snap tabs 139 may be removed from keeper element 142.

In this manner, the hinged partition 134 may be inserted and used when the carrying case is to serve its dual function, or may be removed Where it is desired to employ the entire unobstructed interior of the carrying case for the storage of papers, books or files, or for the sole purpose of transporting garments. In addition, it will be appreciated that the partition 134 may be removed, when desired, with garments retained by the flaps 49, 50 and panel 52, so that the entire partition may be stored in this manner in a drawer or the like.

While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described herein, it will be apparent that numerous omissions, changes and additions may be made in such embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

For example, the carrying case may be made of larger size and in one commercial form is made 21" (twenty-one inches) in length so that a suit of clothing may be stored in its upper compartment. This provides a compact onesuiter case and combined attache case which is particularly suited to be carried onto an airplane without the necessity of checking the same.

What is claimed is:

1. A dual purpose carrying case for carrying papers and articles of apparel comprising a bottom section having an ope-n top, said bottom section including a bottom panel and rigid upstanding side walls connected to the peripheral edges of said bottom panel; a lid section hav-' ing a top panel and rigid depending side walls connected to the peripheral edges of said top panel; means connecting said lid section to said bottom section for movement between a bottom closed position and a bottom open position; a substantially rigid partition pivotally mounted in said carrying case; and releasable mounting means in one of said sections for supporting said rigid partition in parallel spaced relation from the panel associated with said one of said section, whereby said panel associated with one of said sections, and said partition define a substantially rigid compartment therebetween to receive articles of apparel therein; and flap means pivotally connected to said partition along the lateral edges thereof and adapted to be superposed over portions of said partition, and panel means pivotally connected to said partition adjacent the pivotal connection of said partition to said case and adapted to be superposed over said flap means, and means for maintaining said panel in place, whereby said panel and flap means may be pivoted to expose said partition to receive articles of apparel thereon and said flap means and panel may be pivoted to be superposed on said partition and affixed in place to maintain said articles of apparel in place on said partition.

2. A dual purpose carrying case for carrying papers and articles of apparel comprising a bottom section having an open top, said bottom section including a bottom panel and rigid upstanding side walls connected to the peripheral edges of said bottom panel; a lid section having a top panel and rigid depending side walls connected to the peripheral edges of said top panel; means connecting said lid section to said bottom section for movement between a bottom closed position and a bottom open position; a substantially rigid partition pivotally mounted in said carrying case; and releasable mounting means in one of said sections for supporting said rigid partition in parallel spaced relation from the panel associated with said one of said sections, whereby said panel associated with one of said sections and said partition define a substantially rigid compartment therebetween to receive articles of apparel therein; said means connecting said lid section to said bottom section comprising a plurality of longitudinally spaced hinges connected between one of said upstanding side walls and one of said depending side walls; and a plurality of fasteners connected between the upstanding wall of said bottom section opposite to said one upstanding Wall and the depending wall of said lid section opposite to said one depending wall to lock the case in the bottom closed position; wherein said carrying case is lined with a cloth material, and said partition is connected to said cloth material by stitching.

3. A dual purpose carrying case for carrying papers and articles of apparel comprising a bottom section having an open top, said bottom section including a bottom panel and rigid upstanding side walls connected to the peripheral edges of said bottom panel; a lid section having a top panel and rigid depending side walls connected to the peripheral edges of said top panel; hinge means connecting one wall of said lid section to one wall of said bottom section for pivotal movement between a bottom open position and a bottom closed position; lock means connected to said bottom and said lid sections for maintaining said lid section in bottom closed position; a substantially rigid central partition in said carrying case; 'means pivotally mounting said partition within said carrying case for pivotal movement within said carrying case; and releasable mounting means for supporting said partition in parallel spaced relation from said top panel, whereby said partition and said top panel define a substantially rigid compartment therebetween to receive articles of apparel therein; and flap means pivotally connected to said partition along the lateral edges thereof and adapted to be superposed over portions of said partition, and panel means pivotally connected to said partition adjacent the pivotal connection of said partition to said case and adapted to be superposed over said flap means, and means for maintaining said panel in place, whereby said panel and flap means may be pivoted to expose said partition to receive articles of apparel thereon and said flap means and panel may be pivoted to be superposed on said partion and affixed in place to maintain said articles of apparel in place on said partition.

4. A dual purpose carrying case for carrying papers and articles of apparel comprising a bottom section having an open top, said bottom section including a bottom panel and rigid upstanding side walls connected to the peripheral edges of said bottom panel; a lid section having a top panel and rigid depending side walls connected to the peripheral edges of said top panel; hinge means connecting one wall of said lid section to one wall of said bottom section for pivotal movement between a bottom open position and a bottom closed position; lock means connected to said bottom and said lid sections for maint-aining said lid section in bottom closed position; a substantially rigid central partition in said carrying case; means pivotally mounting said partition within said carrying case for pivotal movement within said carrying case; and releasable mounting means for supporting said partition in parallel spaced relation from said top panel, whereby said partition and said top panel define a substantially rigid compartment therebetween to receive articles of apparel therein; wherein said means pivotally mounting said partition Within said carrying case comprises a plurality of snap tabs connected to said partition and extending beyond the rear edge thereof, and a plurality of keeper elements in one-to-one correspondence with said plurality of snap tabs connected to one of said depending walls, each of said keeper elements being sized and positioned to receive a respective snap tab, each of said snap tabs including a member movable between a keeper engaged and a keeper disengaged position, whereby said keeper elements will releasably retain said snap tabs to releasably connect said partition to said case.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,610,146 12/1926 Panzer 190-51 1,681,269 8/1928 Tueckmantel 190---51 1,889,765 12/1932 Swithes 19051 1,908,178 5/1933 Plotkin l51 2,595,089 4/ 1952 Lifton 5 1 3,123,190 3/1964 Lifton 190-51 3,137,374 6/ 1964 Holtzman 1905 1 JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner.

FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Examiner. 

1. A DUAL PURPOSE CARRYING CASE FOR CARRYING PAPERS AND ARTICLES OF APPAREL COMPRISING A BOTTOM SECTION HAVING AN OPEN TOP, SAID BOTTOM SECTION INCLUDING A BOTTOM PANEL AND RIGID UPSTANDING SIDE WALLS CONNECTED TO THE PERIPHERAL EDGES OF SAID BOTTOM PANEL; A LID SECTION HAVING A TOP PANEL AND RIGID DEPENDING SIDE WALLS CONNECTED TO THE PERIPHERAL EDGES OF SAID TOP PANEL; MEANS CONNECTING SAID LID SECTION TO SAID BOTTOM SECTION FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN A BOTTOM CLOSED POSITION AND A BOTTOM OPEN POSITION; A SUBSTANTIALLY RIGID PARTITION PIVOTALLY MOUNTED IN SAID CARRYING CASE; AND RELEASABLE MOUNTING MEANS IN ONE OF SAID SECTIONS FOR SUPPORTING SAID RIGID PARTITION IN PARALLEL SPACED RELATION FROM THE PANEL ASSOCIATED WITH SAID ONE OF SAID SECTION, WHEREBY SAID PANEL ASSOCIATED WITH ONE OF SAID SECTIONS, AND SAID PARTITION DEFINE A SUBSTANTIALLY RIGID COMPARTMENT THEREBETWEEN TO RECEIVE ARTICLES OF APPAREL THEREIN; AND FLAP MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID PARTITION ALONG THE LATERAL EDGES THEREOF AND ADAPTED TO BE SUPERPOSED OVER PORTIONS OF SAID PARTITION, AND PANEL MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID PARTITION ADJACENT THE PIVOTAL CONNECTION OF SAID PARTITION TO SAID CASE AND ADAPTED TO BE SUPERPOSED OVER SAID FLAP MEANS, AND MEANS FOR MAINTAINING SAID PANEL IN PLACE, WHEREBY SAID PANEL AND FLAP MEANS MAY BE PIVOTED TO EXPOSE SAID PARTITION TO RECEIVE ARTICLES OF APPAREL THEREON AND SAID FLAP MEANS AND PANEL MAY BE PIVOTED TO BE SUPERPOSED ON SAID PARTITION AND AFFIXED IN PLACE TO MAINTAIN SAID ARTICLES OF APPAREL IN PLACE ON SAID PARTITION. 